Drilling-machine.



PATLNTPDI.MARQQPv 1905.

. R.M. DOWNIE."

D'RILLING MACHINE. APPLICATION MLPD SEPT 17 1903 5 SEEE S-SHEET 1.

No. 785,352. v BATENTBDMAR. 21, 1905.v

' R. M.` DOWNIB. MILLING LVIAGHINE.l

APPLICATION .PI-LED SEPT. l?, 1903.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 2.,

PATENTED MAR. 21, 1905.

B.. M. DOWNIE.

DRILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATIUN FILED 53m17.190s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3- PATENTED MAR. 2l, 1905.

R. M. DOWNIE.

DRILLING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION FILED sum1?. 199s.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

u@ 511 1 uml To@ i UNTTBD STATes Patented March 21, 1905.

PATENT Trice.

ROBERT M. DOWNIE, OFBEAVERFALLS, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR TO KEYSTONE `DRILLER COMPANY, OFV BEAVERFALLS, PENNSYLVANIA.

vSPECI'JSICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 785,352, dated March 21, 1905.

Application led September 1 7, 1903. Serial No, 173,604

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, ROBERT M. DOWNIE, a citizen of the United States, resid ing at Beaverfalls, in the county of Beaver and State of Pennsylvania, have invented a new and useful Drilling-Machine, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates more particularly to portable machines for drilling oil-wells and the like. H eretofore the depth of wells drilled by such machines has been limited, and stationary rigs built on the spot have almost universally been employed for drilling those of the deeper class. These stationary rigs require a large area of ground to accommodate them, together with much time and great eX- pense in construction. Vlien the well is completed, the materialhsuch as derrick-liunber, foundations, and the like-is of little value.

One of thelobjeots of the present invention is to provide a machine of a portable charac-A ter that will drill deep wells with speed and eliciency. Various advantageous features of the invention, however, are not limited for use in connection with the heavier or portable structures, b-ut may be employed in lighter machines, all of which will be evident to those skilled in the art when the nature of the invention is fully understood.

Another object is to provide certain combinations of elements which completely avoids the necessity of slow uncertain power-distributing' frictional or other easily-destructible gearing for the cable-reel or for the intermediate shafting, thus avoiding all necessity of large and cumbersome bull-wheels.

A still further object is to reduce the manipulation of the entire drilling machine, including the pump-reel, to a few simple and easily-operated levers, all conveniently grouped within convenient reach of the driller at the well. Y

The construction, operation, and advantages of the various features are minutely described in the following specification and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

It willbe readily understood upon an inspection of the claims hereto appended that the structure is open to various changes and modifications.

In the drawings, Figure l is an elevation of one side of the machine. Fig. 2 is a similar view of the opposite side, certain elements being removed. 3 is a top plan view of the machine. Fig. 4 is a vertical longitudinal sectional view through a portion of the machine, illustrating the spudding mechanism. Eig. 5 is also a sectional view more clearly illustrating the structure of the carrier for one end of the cable-reel. Fig. 6 is a top plan view thereof. Fig. 7 is a sectional view through the brake for said lever. Fig. 8 isa side elevation, on an enlarged scale, illustrating more particularly the bandwheel and sandpump reel-wheel gearing therewith. Fig. 9 is an inner View thereof. Eig. l0 is a top plan view of the same; portions being broken away. Eig. 11 is a sectional view through the cam for moving the sand-pump reel. Eig. l2 is a sectional view on the line fr .fr of Eig. ll. Fig. 13 is a bottomv plan view of the cap-bearing for the cam. Fig. Mis a side elevation of the drive-wheel. Fig. l5 is a sectional view through the same. Fig. 16 is a detail sectional view through one end of the eXtensible reach-bar.

Similar reference-numerals indicate corresponding parts in all the figures of the drawings.

In the structure illustrated a frame is employed consisting of spaced longitudinally-disposed sills l, connected by cross-bars 2, said frame being mounted upon suitable groundwheels 3, the bolster for the front bar being connected to the frame by a brace 4, the rear wheels having brakes 5 coacting therewith. Located at one end of the frame is a suitable mast 6, supported on a transverse sleeper 7. This mast may, if desired, be supplanted by any well-known form of derrick and carries at its upper end the usual crown sheave or pulley. (Not shown.)

Journaled on the rear portion of the machine and in suitable boXings 8, secured to the sills, is a drive-shaft 9, located transversely of the frame and having its ends projecting beyond the sills. One end of the shaft 9 has a band-wheel 10, provided witha peripheral rim 11, said wheel being located outside the adjacent sills. An engine 12 of any well-known or desired form is mounted upon one of the front corners of the machine and is provided with a shaft 13, carrying a pulley 14, located in line with the band-wheel. A belt 15 passes about the band-wheel and pulley, and this constitutes the connecting means between the engine and drive-shaft. It will, of course, be understood that the engine is not necessarily mounted on the machine and may be located at any desired point so long as the pulley 14 thereof remains in line with the band-wheel and opposite to the friction-wheel of the sandpump reel, as is hereinafter more fully described. The ends of the shafts 9 and 13 project, respectively, beyond the band-wheel and pulley and are journaled in boXings 16, connected by a tension or reach bar 17, having nuts 18 threaded thereon and bearing against the'boxings, so that said reach is thus made extensible to obtain the separation of the shafts, and thereby placing any desired degree of tension upon the belt 15.

Keyed or otherwise suitably secured to the end of the drive-shaft 9 opposite that carrying the band-wheel is a drive-wheel 19, that is located outside the adjacent sills of the frame. This drive-wheel is provided with a peripheral series of teeth 20, and one of the spokes thereof is offset or located in outstanding relation, being provided with a series of radially-disposed openings 22. This wheel j constitutes the main driving-wheel for the various drilling mechanisms, as will now be described.

A Samson-post 23 is mounted upon the frame and over the front axle, being suitably held by braces 24. Upon the upper end of this Samson-post is saddled a walking-beam 25, the free end of which is provided with a suitable clutch 26 for the temper-screw. The opposite end carries a pitman 27, the lower end of which is adapted to be detachably connected with the driving-wheel by means of a wristpin 27, that may be engaged in any of the openings 22.

Spudding and pipe-driving mechanism are also employed in this machine, said mechanism comprising a rock-shaft 28, journaled upon the front portion of the machine and having a forwardly-extending crank-arm 29. A spudding-sheave 30 is journaled upon the free end of this crank-arm, being located at one side of the same, as illustrated more particularly. in Fig. 3. An idler 31 is loosely journaled on the rock-shaft at one side of the crank-arm and in line with the spuddingsheave. The rock-shaft projects beyond one side of the frame and has a depending crankarm 32 located outside the adjacent sill and on the side of the machine carrying the drive- Wheel.

with the drive-wheel by means of a pitman 33, having a pivotal connection 34 with the lower end of the same, the opposite end being attached to the drive-wheel by means of the wrist-.pins 27.

A cable-reel is located on the frame between the driving-shaft and the spudding mechanism. Said reel consists of a shaft 35, one end of which is journaled in a boxing 36, attached to one sill, the other end being journaled in a boxing 37, mounted on a carrier-block 38, that is slidably arranged on the other sill, said carrier-block being held against lateral displacement by means of stirrups or yokes 39, attached to the sill and embracing the block. The shaft 3'5 is provided with end disks 40 and 4l, constituting the ends of the reel, the disk 41 having a groove 42 in its periphery and forming a brake-wheel. Coacting with this wheel is a band 43, anchored at one end as shown at 44, to the carrier-block 38, the other end being fastened to a crank-lever 45, journaled at 46 to the block and having a forwardly-extending handle-arm 47, that projects to the front of the machine in convenient relation to the driller. The band 43 carries on its inner face a shoe formed of a plurality of blocks 48, spaced apart and detachabl y secured to the band by bolts49. These blocks are substantially V-shaped in cross-section and are adapted to it in the groove 42 of the wheel, as illustrated in Fig. 7. The shaft 35 projects beyond one of the sills and carries on said projecting end a gear-wheel 50, that is movable into and out of coacting mesh with the peripheral teeth of the drive-wheel when the carrier-block is moved. This movement is accomplished by means of a lever 51, pivoted at 52 to the sill and having a connection 53 with the block. The lower end of the lever 51 has a link connection 54 with a bellcrank lever 55, pivoted to the sill, one arm, 56, of said lever being disposed in depending relation and connected with the link 54, the other arm, 57, extending to the front of the machine, where it may be readily operated by the driller.

In connection with the mechanism there is of course employed a sand-pump reel, which is shown at 58, being journaled in boxings 59, carried by the sills. One of the boxings is in the form of a cam 60, fitted in a suitable twopart bearing 61 and having a depending finger 62, to which is secured an operating-lever 63. To the lower end of the lever is secured a handle-link 64, that extends to the front end of the machine at one side of the mast. The end of the shaft that is located in the cam carries a friction-wheel 65, located inside the band-wheel 11 and movable into engagement with the inner face of that portion of the rim which is borne against by the belt. In other words, the bearing of the wheel 65 is in line with the shafts 9 and 13 and in opposition to This crank-arm 32 can be connected i the pull of the belt.

IOO

It is believed that the operation of this machine will be readily understood. When spudding in or driving casing, the spudding mechanism is employed. The cable or rope is therefore passed from the reel over the idler 3l, beneath the spudding-sheave 30, and over the crown-pulley. The rock-shaft 28 is connected with the drive-wheel by means of the pitman 33, and an oscillatory movement is therefore given to the rope. On account of theparticular arrangement of the spudding-sheave the rope will parallel the mast, and thus all vibration and lateral strain thereto are overcome. The drilling-cable, moreover, during this operation does not travel in vthe sheave or idler, but simply rests therein, thus preventing the excessive chafing of the cable which ordinarily occurs at this point. Another advantage gained by this part of the invention is the constantly-accelerated speed imparted to the drilling-cable during each downward stroke of the pulling-cable and corresponding upstroke of the drilling-tool. In order to fully understand this, it is necessary to state that at the exact instant of time when the drilling-tool im pinges upon the bottom of the drill-hole the cable is drawn very rigid, and at this point of time also the tool has not only a great tendency to wedge itself fast in the bottom of the hole, but in order to obtain rapid work the direction of said drilling-tool must be instantly reversed from a downward to an upward motion. The more quickly the drilling-tool is lifted the greater the height to which it will be thrown, the more strokes will be made to the minute, and consequently the greater the speed of drilling. By this arrangement the greatest power is obtained at the beginning of the upstroke of the drilling-tool, when the greatest power is needed to start it, or, in other words, reverse the movement, and the greatest speed of ascent is obtained at the top of the strokejust when it is moet needed. Therefore it will be understood that when the drilling-tool is at the bottom of its downstroke the spudding-sheave will be at its highest limit of travel and the cable will not be bent over the idler. At this point of the stroke a descent of one inch on the spudding-sheave will elevate the drillingtool the same distance; but asV the spudding-v sheave descends farther the position of the idler serves to constantly increase the eiect of the downward motion, and experience has demonstrated that one inch of movement on the part of the spudding-sheave will elevate the drilling-tool two inches or more. As a result of this specific combination the operator can run his tools on the spring of the line from the start. Moreover, the length of the stroke can be changed at will by simply movingI the wrist-pin 27L toward or from the axis of rotation of the drive-wheel. Thus in case the drive-pipe is extra large or if for any reason it is hard to drive the stroke can be increased to a very great extent.

`effect on the band-wheel.

After t the drill has been well started the walking'- beam can be brought intoV operation, this being easily accomplished by simply detaching the pitman 33 from the wrist-pin 27a and connecting the pitman 27 of saidwalking-beam thereto.

The operation of the cable-reel will now be described; Vhen it is desired to hold the reel stationary, the carrier-block 38 is moved so that the gear-wheel 50 is out of mesh with the drive-wheel, and the brake is set. On the other hand, if it is desired to raise the string tools or draw of the casing it is only necessary to actuate the arm 57 of the bell-crank lever, thereby moving the carrier-block so as to throw the gear-wheels into mesh, at the same time releasing the brake. It will be apparent that, because of the mounting of the brake on the movable carrier-block, said brake can be moved into and out of coacting relation with the wheel thereof without regard .f

to the position of the gear-wheels. This is a very important feature. The structure of the brake has also distinct advantages. Heretofore it has been the common custom to employ large wooden wheels in connection with {'latiron bands. These wheels were extremely subject to wear, and under rapid motion-as,

for instance, in running heavy tools rapidly into a deep well-they would take fire from the friction generated unless water was con- IOO said shoe such a quick and strong contact I with a minimum pressure that the inere weight of the hand-lever 47 is sufficient of itself to stop and safely holdthe heavy drilling-tools at any point without other fastenings. 1n addition to these advantages the V- shaped blocks present a maximum of frictionsurface without materially decreasing the cable space of the reel. This in turn andowing to the form of wedge-shaped blocks permits the construction of a wheel having the same eiciency with a diameter less than one-half that of the flat-faced friction-wheel above described.

It is also desired to call attention to the specific'arrangement of the sand-pump reel. I amaware that itis not new to drive this reel by means of a friction-wheel that bears against a band-wheel; but said friction-wheel has been placed indiscriminately and has a deterioating y This will be appreciated when itis understood that the bandwheel is constructed of wooden segments,

IIO

while the friction-wheel must be pressed with the reason that the friction-wheel bears firmly against that part of the rim of the band-wheel that is fully supported by the heavy drivingbelt. In other words, the rim of the bandwheel becomes merely an intermediary friction-circle between the driving-belt and the friction wheel, and said rimcan be made much lighter than otherwise, besides having an indefinitely greater amount of durability. There are also advantages for having the different wheels shown located outside the sills, for said wheels may be removed. if desired, during transportation. Moreover, the driving-belt can be tightened to any-extent through the medium of the reach, or by contracting said reach the belt may be loosened, so that it can be readily removed. The location of the gear-wheels on the outside of the frame with the friction-brake inside of the adjacent sills and close to the bearing is important because of the safety gained. By the possible breaking of the intervening journal when drawing or lowering the drilling-tools or the accidental breaking of the winding-gear the operator would normally lose entire control of the drilling-tools, and they might be dropped to destruction. The same thing might also occur when handling heavy strings of casing. By the present arrangement an accident of this kind cannot occur.

From the foregoing it will be evident that the machine has many very great advantages, due to the particular arrangement and construction of the parts. While, as already stated, it is intended primarily for deep wells to supplant the expensive and bulky stationary rigs, many of the features hereinafter pointed out in the claims are adaptable for use in lighter machines of this nature.

Having thus described my invention` what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a su pporting-frame, of a mast or derrick located at one end of the same, a drive-wheel supported on the frame in rear of the mast or derrick, spudding mechanism mounted on the frame between the drive-wheel and mast and including a crank located in substantially the same plane as the drive-wheel, a pitman for connecting the crank of the spudding mechanism and the drive-wheel, a walking-beam supported on the frame over the spudding mechanism and having its rear end above the drive-wheel, and another pitman for connecting the drive-wheel and the walking-beam.

2. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a mast located at one end of the same, a driving-shaft located on the other end portion of the machine and having a crank at one end that is located at one side of the frame, a rock-shaft journaled on the frame between the mast and driving-shaft and having a crank located at the same side of the frame as the driving-shaft crank, spudding means carried by the rock-shaft, a walking-beam mounted on the frame and having one end extending over the driving-shaft crank, and devices whereby either the walking-beam or the crank of the rock-shaft can be connected to the crank of said drivingshaft.

3. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a mast located at .one end of the same, a driving-shaft located on the other end portion of the frame, a crank-wheel secured to said shaft and located at one side of the frame, a rock-shaft journaled on the frame between the mast and driving-shaft and having' a crank-arm located at the same side of the frame as the crankwheel, spudding means carried by the rockshaft, a walking-beam mounted on the frame over the spudding means and having one end located over the crank-wheel, an upright pitman for connecting the walking-beam to the crank-wheel, and a longitudinally-disposed pitman for connecting the crank-wheel and the crank-arm of the rock-shaft.

1i. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a driving-shaft mounted thereon, a drive-wheel carried by the shaft, spudding mechanism mounted on the frame independently of the drive-wheel and having' a crank connection directly with said wheel, and a cable-reel movable into and 'out of coaction with the drive-wheel.

5. 1n a drilling-lnachine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a shaft journalcd thereon, a drive-wheel carried by the shaft, a walking-beam having a direct crank connection with one side of the drive-wheel, and a cable-reel movable into and out of coaction with the periphery of the drive-wheel.

6. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a drive -shaft journaled thereon, a drive-wheel carried by the shaft, spudding mechanism having a detachable connection directly with the drive- Wheel, said spudding mechanism being mounted on the frame, a walking-beam having a detachable connection directly with the drivewheel, and a reel movable into and out of coaction with the drive-wheel.

7. In a-drilling-machine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a drive-shaft journaled transversely thereon, a drive-wheel carried by the shaft and having gear-teeth, a reel having a gear movable into and out of mesh with the teeth of the drive-wheel, a walking-beam, spudding mechanism, pitmen con- IOO nected respectively with the walking-beam and spudding mechanism, and means for detachably connecting the pitmen directly to the drive-wheel at one side of its axis of rotation.

8. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a supporting-frame, of a drive-shaft journaled transversely thereon, a drive-wheel carried by the shaft, said wheel having peripheral gear-teeth and a radial series of openings, a reel having a gear-wheel movable into and out of mesh with the teeth of the drive- Wheel, a walking-beam, spuddiug mechanism, pitmen connected respectively with the spudding mechanism and walking-beam, and means adapted to engage in any of the radial series or' openings of the drive-wheel for connecting either of the pitmen thereto.

9. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a support, of a carrier movable on the su pport, wheels movable'into and out of coacting relation, one of said wheels being mounted on the carrier, and a brake for holding the wheel against movement, said brake being also mounted on the carrier and movable therewith.

10. ln a drilling-machine, the combination with a support, of a d rive-wheel, acarriermovable on the support toward and from the wheel, a reel mounted on the carrier and having` a wheel movable into and out of coactive relation with the drive-wheel, and a brake for the wheel mounted on the carrier and movable therewith.

11. In a drilling-machine, the combination with asupport, of a carrier movable on the support, a driving gear-wheel journaled on the support, a reel journaled on the carrier and having a gear-wheel movable into and out of coacting relation with the drive-wheel, and a band-brake mounted on the carrier and coacting with the reel to hold the same against movement.

12. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a support, of a carrier-block slidably mounted on thc support, a reel journaled on the carrier-block and having a gear-wheel movable into and out of mesh with the drivingwheel, a band-brake coacting with the reel, said brake having one end anchored to the block, a crank journaled on the block and connected to the outer end of the brake, and means for sliding the block.

13. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a frame including' spaced sills, of a driving-shaft journaled on the sills and' having a drive-wheel, a carrier-block slidably mounted on one sill, a lever for moving the carrierblock, a reel journaled at one end on one sill and at the other end on the carrier-block, said reel having a gear-wheel movable into and out of coaction with the drive-wheel, and a brake mounted on the carrier-block and coacting with the reel to hold the same against movenient.

14. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a frame including spaced sills, of a driveshaft journaled on the sills, a drive gear-wheel carried by one end of the shaft, said wheel being located outside the sills, a reel, a gearwheel connected with the reel and located outside the sills, said gear-wheel coacting with the drive-wheel, and a brake-wheel for the reel located inside the sills.

15. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a frame including spaced sills, of a driveshaft journaled transversely of the sills and projecting beyond the same, a band-wheel located on one end of the shaft outside the sills, a drive gear-wheel carried by the other end of the shaft outside the sills, a reel-shaft journaled transversely of the sills, a gear-wheel carried by one end of the reel-shaft and located outside the sills, said gear-wheel coacting With the drive-wheel, and a brake-wheel mounted on the reel-shaft between the sills.

16. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a rock-shaft having a crank-arm secured thereto, of a spudding-sheave journaled on the crank-arm, an idler j ou rnaled on the shaft, and means connected to the rock-shaft independently of said crank-arm for moving the same.

17. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a rock-shaft having a crank-arm secured thereto, of a spudding-sheave journaled on the crank-arm, an idler journaled on the shaft in line with the spudding-sheave, and means for rocking the shaft and thereby oscillating the arm.

18. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a rock-shaft having angularly-disposed crank-arms secured thereto, of a spuddingsheave journaled on one of the crank-arms, an idler journaled on the shaft, and means connected to the other crank-arm for rocking the shaft.

19. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a rock-shaft having independent crankarms, of a spudding-sheave journaled upon one crank-arm, anidlerjournaled on the shaft, a drive-Wheel, and a pitman connection between the drive-wheel and the other crankarm.

20. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a support, oi' a rock-shaft journaled on the support, a crank-arm secured to the rockshaft, a spudding-sheave journaled on the arm, an idler journaled on the rock-shaft, another crank-arm attached to the rock-shaft, a drivewheel journaled on the support, a pitman connection between the drive-wheel and the lastmentioned crank-arm, and a reel journaled on the support between the drive-wheel and the rock-shaft.

21. In a drilling-machine, the combination with a frame, of a mast located at one end of the frame, a rock-shaft journaled on said end and having a crank-arm extending toward the mast, a spudding-sheave journaled on the IOO IIO

between the drive-Wheel and the depending I0 crank-arm.

ln testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own l have hereto axed my signature in the presence of two Witnesses.

ROBERT M. DOWNIE. Witnesses:

F, W. RANson, W. R. MITCHELL. 

